Boyfriend Charged In Shooting Death Of Mercer Woman: Prosecutor

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A 29-year-old man was charged with murder after he shot his girlfriend multiple times in Trenton, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said.

On Saturday, July 1, around 10:19 p.m., Trenton Police received a 911 call reporting gunshots fired at 301 Hills Place, Trenton. Officers responded and found Precious Saunders, 32, inside the residence. She sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 11:05 p.m., Onofri said.

An investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department revealed that earlier in the day, Saunders was the victim of an assault at the house and a complaint warrant had been issued for her boyfriend, Jeremy Ratliff, 29, of Trenton, charging him with aggravated assault, Onofri said.

Ratliff was located by Trenton Police around 10:46 p.m. in the area of the Trenton train station at 72 South Clinton Avenue and taken into custody on the aggravated assault warrant, authorities said.

During the investigation, detectives learned that during the second incident, witnesses heard screaming followed by several gunshots at 301 Hills Place. Ratliff was seen leaving the residence and fleeing on Hills Place towards Federal Street, Onofri said.

Ratliff was charged with first-degree murder and second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose. He will be held at the Mercer County Correction Center pending a detention hearing.

The investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and Trenton Police Department is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact MCHTF Detective Karl Johnston at (609) 989-6406 or Sgt. Roberto Reyes at (609) 256-0997. Information can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com